Home automation includes but is not limited to automatic control of lighting scenes for security and astetics, climate control for energy conservation, multimedia control of entertainment systems, plant watering, pet feeding and appliance control. Many of these functions can be installed in your existing home without any damage to the home.

Home automation is a field within building automation, specializing in the specific automation requirements of private homes and in the application of automation techniques for the comfort and security of its residents. Although many techniques used in building automation (such as light and climate control, control of doors and window shutters, security and surveillance systems, etc.) are also used in home automation, additional functions in home automation can include the control of multi-media home entertainment systems, automatic plant watering and pet feeding, automatic scenes for dinners and parties, and a more user-friendly control interface.

When home automation is installed during construction of a new home, usually control wires are added before the interior walls are installed. These control wires run to a controller, which will then control the environment.